Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Maddie & Tae Gave Nashville a Shakeup with Debut Single “Girl in a Country Song”

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.
Maddie & Tae burst onto the country scene with the release of their debut single, “Girl in a Country Song,” in 2014. The song quickly peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart; this made Maddie & Tae the first female duo who topped the chart with their debut single since 2006 and the only second in history. It also charted at No. 3 and 54 on both the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively. It achieved the same chart success in Canada, peaking at No. 5 on the Canada Country chart and No. 61 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.

The Song That Gave A Voice To Females Within The Country Genre

Written by Maddie & Tae with Aaron Scherz, “Girl in a Country Song” is an anti-Bro-Country. The song poked fun at the current trend amongst hitmakers like Blake Shelton, Billy Currington, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan – specifically about the way most top male stars portray women in their songs. And how “Conway Twitty and George Strait never did it this way back in the old days.” “Girl in a country song. How in the world did it go so wrong. Like all I’m good for is lookin’ good for. You and your friends on the weekend, nothin’ more. We used to get a little respect. Now we’re lucky if we even get,” the song goes. The song’s beginning goes way back to St. Patrick’s Day in 2014 when Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye sat down with songwriter Aaron Scherz. While talking about different country songs, they started to notice that the lyrics share a common theme. They never had any idea they would be creating history, giving a voice to females within the country genre. “We wanted to go at it from a girl’s perspective, and we wanted to put ourselves in the shoes of this girl. You know, how does she feel wearing these cut-off shorts, sitting on the tailgate?” Dye said. The song also references several bro-country hit tunes, including Billy Currington’s “Hey Girl,” Blake Shelton’s “Boys Round Here, “Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem,” Tyler Farr’s “Redneck Crazy” and” Florida Georgia Line’s “Get Your Shine On.”  “We were in the songwriting room, and we had a checklist. Literally, we had a checklist. The first one read, I think, ‘girl.’ The second one was ‘tailgate.’ We went through all the songs that we love and made a checklist, and that’s how it happened,” the duo said of how they ended up incorporating all these references. The song quickly resonated with listeners, most of whom have grown frustrated with the way women were sung about in country music’s current party stage – but it hasn’t been without controversy. In an interview, Florida Georgia Line singer Brian Kelley seemed less than entertained when asked about the song. “I’m not really familiar with that … All I’m gonna say about that is, I don’t know one girl who doesn’t want to be a girl in a country song,” he said. “That’s all I’m gonna say to you. That’s it.” A year later, after their first single was released, Maddie & Tae did not regret their introduction to Nashville ruffled feathers. “I think the pushback almost motivated us a little more,” Dye admitted. “The fact that we knew we were doing something that people kind of got their feelings hurt over was worth something.” The video for “Girl in a Country Song” even more created a buzz. Featuring a comical role reversal, scantily-clad country boys played the submissive roles usually reserved for women in country music videos. You can check it out below. 

Latest Stories

8-Year-Old Annafaith Wows with Cover of Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind"

8-Year-Old Annafaith Wows with Cover of Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind”

Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” is one of those rare songs that seems to transcend time, weaving its way into the hearts of listeners for decades. Covering such an ...

Garth Brooks' Daughter Allie Colleen Scores Her First Top-40 Country Hit

Garth Brooks’ Daughter Allie Colleen Scores Her First Top-40 Country Hit

In 2021, Allie Colleen, the youngest daughter of country legend Garth Brooks, proved that musical talent runs in the family. With her single “Ain’t the Only Hell (My Momma Raised),” ...

Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton's "Does He Love You" Is the Collaboration We've Been Waiting For

Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton’s “Does He Love You” Is the Collaboration We’ve Been Waiting For

When Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton team up, it feels like the stars have aligned over Nashville. These two queens of country music, with careers that have shaped the genre ...

Ben Haggard's "As Haggard as They Come" Honors His Father While Defining His Own Path

Ben Haggard’s “As Haggard as They Come” Honors His Father While Defining His Own Path

In 2019, Ben Haggard delivered a performance at the Grand Ole Opry that felt like a love letter to his roots and a bold step toward his future. His song, ...

Mo Pitney's "Borrowed Angel" Is a Love Letter to Traditional Country

Mo Pitney’s “Borrowed Angel” Is a Love Letter to Traditional Country

In a time when country-pop dominates the charts, Mo Pitney stands out as a refreshing reminder of what makes traditional country music timeless. In an episode of Country Road TV ...

Hannah Kay Honors Loretta Lynn in Powerful "Coal Miner's Daughter" Performance

Hannah Kay Honors Loretta Lynn in Powerful “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Performance

In a world where country music continually evolves, some voices remind us of its timeless roots. In 2019, then-18-year-old Texas singer Hannah Kay did just that with her moving rendition ...

Zach Top’s Journey from Farm Life in WA to Breakout Country Music Star

Zach Top’s Journey from Farm Life in WA to Breakout Country Music Star

Zach Top didn’t just stumble into country music fame; he built his way there from the ground up, starting on a modest farm in Sunnyside, Washington. Far removed from Nashville’s ...

Morgan Wallen’s “Love Somebody” Tackles Real Romance with a Fresh Sound

Morgan Wallen’s “Love Somebody” Tackles Real Romance with a Fresh Sound

Morgan Wallen’s new single, “Love Somebody,” has arrived, and it’s not just another love song—it’s an honest look at the complicated, often bumpy road to finding real connection. After years ...

Morgan Wallen Sets New Records Outshining Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen Sets New Records Outshining Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen’s career continues to reach impressive heights with his latest achievement. This historic milestone solidifies his place among country music’s most celebrated figures. His new single, “Love Somebody,” has ...

Jelly Roll Gets Emotional Sharing a First Look at His Expansive 500-Acre Dream Property

Jelly Roll Gets Emotional Sharing a First Look at His Expansive 500-Acre Dream Property

Country music star Jelly Roll recently shared an emotional video on social media, revealing his purchase of a sprawling 500-acre plot of land. The video, filled with raw emotion and ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.